SBA and Florida Association of Minority Business Enterprise Officials (FAMBEO) Commit to Help Entrepreneurs and Underserved Small Businesses

ORLANDO – The U.S. Small Business Administration signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with Florida Association of Minority Business Enterprise Officials (FAMBEO), on Nov. 21, in order to raise awareness of SBA’s HUBZone, 8(a) and additioanl programs and services that assist underserved small business owners.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony by FAMBEO President Pamela Hart Frazier and SBA Region Administrator Cassius Butts.

Through the alliance, the SBA and FAMBEO agreed to work together to serve Florida’s minority business leaders in building and expanding their businesses through government procurement and contracting.

“The purpose of this alliance is to educate minority business owners of the procurement and contracting opportunities that exist and to connect these business owners with SBA programs that can help to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams,” said SBA Regional Administrator Butts.

In FY2013, Florida small businesses enrolled in SBA’s 8(a) program were offered more than $884.7 million in federal contracts. Florida small businesses enrolled in SBA’s Hubzone program were offered more than $216 million in federal contracts.

“Through our “Institute of Learning” we strive to equip each of our stakeholders with the latest strategies and skills to combat the disparity in opportunities that exist for historically underutilized businesses throughout the state of Florida. FAMBEO is committed to promoting economic inclusion at all levels by actively identifying and sharing opportunities by the businesses, corporations and public agencies representative of FAMBEO’s membership,” said Frazier.

SBA South Florida District Director Francisco “Pancho” Marrero stressed the importance of alliances with groups like FAMBEO.

“The strength of south Florida business communities is its rich diversity of people and cultures. Alliances such as this one with FAMBEO will extend our ability to reach minority-owned businesses to raise awareness and access to the wide range of SBA programs,” said Marrero.